Fleets given say in corporate sales person award

The award forms part of the "DRIVE UP 09" Mercedes-Benz Cars Corporate Sales Reward Programme and sees sales managers, business development managers and key account managers undergo a three-phased assessment programme.

During the first phase, sales managers were ranked on their performance vs. targets, the percentage of sales they achieved in their market area, growth in their market area for 2009 vs. 2008 and the number of accounts buying two or more cars in 2009 compared to in 2008.

Business development managers and key account managers, meanwhile, were assessed on their total sales volume, number of trading accounts and number of new accounts won in 2009.

However, it's in phase two that corporate customers and Mercedes-Benz UK field teams have had their say on candidates.

Colin Niklas, national corporate sales Manager for Mercedes-Benz, said: 'Inviting our customers to score our candidates adds real credibility to the Corporate Sales Person of the Year title. Mercedes-Benz is fully committed to first-class customer service and this move reasserts our confidence in our sales teams to deliver the exacting standards that our customers expect from us.'

Mr Niklas continued: 'We have recognised that it is vital to give our customers a voice in this process and their involvement will motivate our sales teams to strive for even better customer service through 2010 and beyond. For us the Corporate Sales Person of the Year programme is a great way of raising standards across our network.'

With performance figures analysed and customers' feedback collated the finalists were then invited to attend an assessment day at Mercedes-Benz UK. Through a number of activities the finalists had an opportunity to demonstrate team work, deliver a presentation and be interviewed by a panel of judges.

The final result for the Mercedes-Benz Corporate Sales Person of the Year 2009 award will be announced at the National Mercedes-Benz Spring conference on 25 March.